Mac Naughton rises to top as Walmart's chief merchant

Executive on fast track

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — In a swift move by Walmart, Duncan Mac Naughton has been appointed the retailer's chief merchandising officer for its U.S. division, less than three months after being named the company's merchandising EVP.

Mac Naughton, who joined Walmart in October, was part of the big-box retailer's restructuring of the merchandising department, which involved divvying the responsibilities among four EVPs, directly reporting to Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon. Mac Naughton oversaw the consumables, health-and-wellness and Walmart.com businesses.

“We are fortunate to have outstanding, seasoned leadership across our merchant organization. Duncan has distinguished himself with a proven record of success in every organization that he has worked in, including Walmart in the United States and Canada,” Simon said. “He is a strong steward of our culture, and he understands that merchandising is at the very core of our business. Duncan is committed to giving our customers a breadth of assortment, national brands and everyday low prices.”